Means for thawing out sewers.



C. A. WtNTERS.

MEANS FOR HAwING our sEwERs.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.10.19l?.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

WITNESSES ATTQ RN EY 0,. nam umn., summum. n c

CONRAD A. WINTERS, 0F ANACONDA, MONTANA.

MEANS FOR THAWING OUT SEWERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

Application led November 10, 1917. Serial No. 201,352.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CONRAD A. VVINTnRs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Anaconda, in the county of Deerlodge and State of Montana, have invented a new and useful Means for Thawing Out Sewers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to means for thawing out sewers, and its object is to provide a permanent installation whereby the melting of frozen accumulations of water in catch basins may be accomplished.

In sewer systems for streets, it is customary to lead the gutters into catch basins, and the latter are connected to the main sewer. In cold climates, it frequently happens that the accumulations of water in the catch basins freeze, with the result that the catch basins become choked with ice which may completely close the leads to the main sewer, so that the catch basins will fill up and overflow to the detriment of the street.

In accordance with the invention, each catch basin is traversed by a steam pipe which may in turn be carried through the curbing to the top of the latter to be there accessible and which may be there protected by a suitable cover plate. The steam pi e carried for a suitable distance into t e branch sewer leading to the main sewer, so that when the need occurs, a steam hose may be connected to the upper end of the steam pipe and steam be forced into the branch pipe, thus heating the steam. pipe and causing the melting of the ice in its immediate neighborhood, so that the steam can return through the melted passageway into the catch basin and cause the rapid melting of the ice already accumulated therein. In this way, frozen catch basins may be thawed out in a relatively short time.

The invention` will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, with the further understanding that, while the drawing shows a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed and modified so long as such.

changes and modifications come within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a street crossing showing a sewer system and a series of catch basins at the street corners;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through a catch basin and adjacent portions of the street;

Fig. 3 is a view of a cover boxl for the accessible end of the steam pipe and shown on a larger scale than in the other drawings.

Referring to the drawing, there are shown two intersecting streets A and B, the showing being in a manner schematic and without any attempt at accuracy of proportions. The streets are indicated as provided with a curbing 1 which, in the particular showing of the drawings, and more especially in Fig. 2, is indicated as constructed of concrete.

At the corners of the streets there are provided catch basins 2, the showing of the drawings assuming that four such catch basins are provided, but it will be understood that any appropriate number may be em ployed. Each catch basin, which may be formed of concrete or in any other suitable man-ner, has an outlet pipe 3 leading therefrom to another catch basin 4 opening into a main sewer 5, which in turn may lead to a suitable point of disposal. The catch basin at the main sewer is accessible through a manhole provided with a cover 6, but this particular feature does not necessarily enter into the invention.

Each catch basin 2 has a top frame 7 on which there is located a perforated plate 8 for the intake for water flowing from the streets, as is customary. The sewer arrangement illustrated in the drawings is to be taken as typical of any suitable sewer arrangement for the disposal of surplus water, especially storm water and the 1i e.

Each catch basin 2 has its outlet pipe 3 at a suitable distance above the bottom for retaining material which may flow into the catch basin so that it may not reach the main sewer and clog it, it being the custom to clean out the catch basins from time to time. Within each catch basin 2 and entering the same at a high point is a pipe 9, having at its upper end a continuation 10 leading upwardly through the curb 1 and terminating in the threaded extremity 11 or in any other manner permitting the ready attachment thereto of a steam pipe, such as a steam hose. In order to protect the upper end of the pipe 10 from ordinary access, the threaded end 11 of the pipe is carried into a box 12 set in the curb 1 Hush with the top thereof or nearly so. with a solid cover 13' which may benemoived when access to the pipe 10 is desired.

At the lower end of the pipe 9' there is abranch 14 leading into the ipc 3 and terminating in a nozzle 15, alt iough the nozzle ma be omitted if desired.

There weather conditions cause water to yflow along the roadway into the catch basins 2 through the perforatedl covers 8 and when the weather is cold enough to cause the water to freeze in the catch lbasins, ice ma accumulate therein until it ultimately lls the catch basin;Y above the outlet pipe 3 so that the accumulation of ice may finally become so great as to fill the catch basin and cause over-flow thereof and the formation of ice in the roadway. To prevent such condition occurring,the catch basins may he thawed out from time to time by gaining access to the pipes 10 on the removal of the covers 13, and` then by connecting a. source of steam supply to the pipe end 11, steam may bc caused to ,flow out of the nozzle 15 into the pipe 3. If the accumulation of ice With-in the catch basin be so high as to clog up the pipe' at the catch basin, the steam will simply iiow to the sewer 5, but the heat of the steam will melt ice surrounding the pipes 9 and 14 until there is a passageway about the pipe into,A the catch basin and quickly melt ice therein until the catch basin is freed and all immediate danger of clogging is prevented.

The invention provides an ever present means in the catch basins for heating the ice from Within the bodybf the latter, thus quickly disintegrating the ice andv causing it to melt much faster than would be the case if the steam were directed against the outer surface only of the ice.

By placing the pipe 10 within the curbing 1, 1t is not only Wel-l protected from in jury, but is in a convenient location for access, being. at all times protectedr by the cover plateV 1-3.

What is claimedy is:

1. In street construction, the combination with acateh basin; having. sewer connecticms,

The box 12 is provided' of a steam pipe accessible at the street and extending through the catch basin and opening* into the sewer connections.

2. In street construction, a catch basin having sew-er connections, curbing adjacent tothe catch basin, and a pipe extending through the curbing to the top thereof and there accessible and entering the catch basin near the top of the latter and extending through the catch basin to a point opposite the sewer connections of the latter and thence across the catch basin into the sewer connections for conducting steam from a source thereof connected to the accessible end of the pipe into the sewer connections.

3. In street construction, a catch basin having a sewer connection, a curbing adjacent to the catch basin and havin a covered box at its upper end, and a pipe aving one end located 1n the box and there provided with means for connectin it with a steam supply, said pipe extent ing through the curbing to a point below the top of the catch basin and there entering the latter and extended through thc catch basin into the connections from the catch basin to the sewer' and there open.

4;. In street construction, a catch basin providedy with a sewer connection, curbing adjacent to the catch basin, a. pipe extendin through the curbing and into the catci basin at a hi h point of the latter, thence down that sidge of the catch basin adjacent to t'he curbing and thence across the catch basin into the sewer connection and opening into the latter, and a compartment in the upper part of the curbing receiving the pipe and7 provided with a cover for normally protecting the pipe against access, said pipe having means at the end within the compartment for the reception of a connection to a steam supply.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

@@NRLD`A. WINTERS. Witnesses:

Mmmm. Cox, Aaa'rnun NELSON.

copian-ot thirpatent may be obtained for ve cents nach, by addressing the Commissioner "Patents, wuhi'nztom. 01" 

